Renault History

Renault’s story began in 1899 when three French brothers — Louis, Marcel and Fernand Renault — founded the Société Renault Frères. Louis, the youngest and most technically gifted, was responsible for the engineering while his brothers managed finance and business. Even in its earliest days, Renault showed signs of innovation and ambition. Louis invented and patented a direct-drive gearbox system that immediately set Renault cars apart from competitors, demonstrating superior reliability and mechanical refinement.

Racing was central to Renault’s early success. Louis realized that competition was the best way to gain attention and credibility, so the brothers entered city-to-city endurance races across France. Victories in events like Paris–Trouville and Paris–Vienna brought the brand prestige and demand from spectators who wanted to own the same fast and reliable cars they saw on the track. By 1902, Renault had built its first four-cylinder engine capable of 24 horsepower, and production began to scale rapidly at its factory along the Seine.

The death of Marcel Renault in the 1903 Paris–Madrid race deeply affected Louis, prompting him to withdraw personally from driving but not from racing as a discipline. Under professional drivers, Renault cars continued to perform well in European competitions, cementing the company’s reputation for engineering excellence. At the same time, Renault expanded its presence beyond France, exporting vehicles to Britain, the United States and Russia.

During World War I, Renault played a key industrial role, manufacturing military trucks and the revolutionary FT-17 light tank, whose rotating turret influenced tank design worldwide. After the war, Louis Renault used his experience with large-scale production to modernize his car plants, introducing assembly line methods similar to Ford’s. This modernization allowed Renault to mass-produce affordable models such as the Type NN, making personal mobility accessible to a broader audience.

The company weathered the challenges of the Great Depression by diversifying its output beyond automobiles to buses, tractors, aircraft engines and industrial vehicles. After World War II, Renault was nationalized by the French government and reorganized as Régie Nationale des Usines Renault. The first major postwar success came with the compact 4CV, launched in 1946. It became France’s first “people’s car,” offering practicality and efficiency to a nation rebuilding from war.

Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Renault expanded its lineup with models such as the Dauphine, Renault 4 and Renault 8, vehicles that proved immensely popular in both domestic and export markets. The company continued to innovate, introducing front-wheel drive technology and compact yet spacious designs. Renault’s success in rallying during the 1960s and 1970s, particularly with the Renault 8 Gordini and Alpine A110, strengthened its image as both an everyday and performance-oriented brand.

In the 1970s and 1980s, Renault balanced practicality and sportiness, producing iconic models like the Renault 5, which became a symbol of fuel efficiency during the oil crisis, and the Renault 5 Turbo, a rally legend that conquered stages across Europe. The company also expanded internationally, building factories in Spain, Eastern Europe and South America, and acquiring American Motors Corporation (AMC) in 1979 to enter the U.S. market.

Renault’s involvement in Formula 1 began in 1977 and soon brought groundbreaking achievements, including the introduction of the first turbocharged F1 engine, which revolutionized the sport. The brand later achieved multiple world championships as an engine supplier and constructor, becoming one of the most successful names in motorsport.

Today, Renault remains a pillar of global automotive innovation. Its alliance with Nissan and Mitsubishi formed one of the largest automotive groups in the world, fostering advancements in electric mobility and sustainable manufacturing. From its racing triumphs to its revolutionary small cars, Renault’s history reflects over a century of engineering creativity, resilience and the constant pursuit of progress.

Renault

Current Models

Renault 5 Electric

Renault Symbioz

Renault Kardian

Renault Rafale

Renault Grand Kangoo

Renault Austral

Renault Kiger

Renault Megane E-Tech

Renault Arkana

Renault City K-Ze

Renault Triber

Renault Talisman

Renault Alaskan

Renault Kadjar

Renault Kwid

Renault Logan

Renault Captur

Renault Zoe

Renault Scenic Xmod

Renault Clio Rs

Renault Sandero

Renault Twizy

Renault Latitude

Renault Laguna Coupe

Renault Koleos

Renault Grand Scenic

Renault Megane Estate

Renault Twingo

Renault Kangoo

Renault Megane Cabriolet

Renault Megane Sedan

Renault Megane 5 Doors

Renault Scenic

Renault Clio 5 Doors

Renault Espace

Discontinued Models

Renault Talisman Estate

Renault Clio Estate

Renault Megane Coupe

Renault Pulse

Renault Scala

Renault Fluence

Renault Laguna Estate

Renault Clio 3 Doors

Renault Clio Symbol / Thalia

Renault Twingo Rs

Renault Wind

Renault Grand Modus

Renault Modus

Renault Vel Satis

Renault Avantime

Renault Safrane

Renault Spider

Renault 19

Renault 21

Renault Alpine

Renault 25

Renault 9

Renault 11

Renault Fuego

Renault 18

Renault 20

Renault 30

Renault 14

Renault 12

Renault 16

Renault 8

Renault 4 Cv

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